Secret Santa uses Police Officers to spread goodwill... and cash
By William Moore
Daily Journal
TUPELO, MS
Tupelo Police officers pulled over a handful of cars Tuesday morning, but it wasn’t to give out tickets. It was to hand out $100 bills.
For the second year, a local business decided to give back, anonymously, as a Secret Santa.
“It gives you a warm fuzzy feeling,” said the business owner, who requested to remain anonymous. “I heard good things about it last year, so I put the money in the budget this year.”
The event also gives officers like Sgt. Brett Moyer a chance to show off their softer side as they picked out vehicles with a parent and a child.
“I don’t want to see your license, I want to see you smile,” Moyer said to a surprised Stacey Johnson and his 13-year-old son Jordan.
Johnson thought he might have been speeding because he had never heard of police handing out money. But the money would come in handy to buy a present for his wife.
Wykhela Shannon had her three daughters in the car when she was stopped.
“I was terrified when I saw those (blue) lights and heard the siren,” Shannon said. “But I want to say ‘Thank you.’ I’m going to go get my girls some shoes now.
“And I have a testimony now. I can’t wait to tell folks, ‘Guess what happened to me?’”
Lakendria Maxwell was shaken at first, but quickly asked Moyer for a hug. He graciously complied.
“I don’t always get to see folks when they are at their best,” Moyer said. “It’s great to be able to interact with people in a positive manner and show them that we are people too.”
Maxwell went a step further, calling the police “great protectors of the city.”
In addition to stopping cars on the street, one of the $100 bills went to the victim of a crime last weekend.
“A lady had her purse stolen,” said Cpl. Chamila Brown. “In addition to taking her money, they also got her car keys. I drove her home but she was without a car for several days.
“So we wanted to brighten her day a little.”
william.moore@journalinc.com